This is a blog about the people, processes, thoughts, and opinions about technology from Autodesk.

January 17, 2018

Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco: Custom Sound Exhibit

Autodesk makes software for people who make things. If you've ever driven a high-performance car, admired a towering skyscraper, used a smartphone, or watched a great film, chances are you've experienced what millions of Autodesk customers are doing with our software. Autodesk gives you the power to make anything, but some segments of the general public are not yet aware of that.

The Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco celebrates design — the process of taking a great idea and turning it into a reality. With about 60 different exhibits regularly on display that showcase the innovative work of Autodesk customers, the gallery illustrates the role technology plays in great design and engineering. Autodesk Gallery Ambassadors conduct gallery tours as a sideline to their day jobs. The tours provide ambassadors with opportunities to practice public speaking in front of small groups. Autodesk Gallery Curator, Jason Medal-Katz, chose the title, ambassador, instead of docent because the correct way to address an ambassador is "your Excellency." Alas, this never happens.

The Custom Sound exhibit is an exhibit that you see on the 2nd floor of our One Market office in San Francisco:

Today's 3D printing technology provides exciting new possibilities in manufacturing, enabling the creation of goods that combine the solid feel of commercial production with customized materials and styles that reflect our individual tastes. These speaker casings are a vivid example of how such technologies enable nimble, small-batch runs of complex custom designs. A trio of Autodesk designers pooled their skills to demonstrate the unique production possibilities of 3D printers. They employed a range of materials to create a jewel-like merger of solid materials and programmable LED lights.

But these speakers are just one option. The speakers can be tailored to individual tastes using diverse visual designs and materials.

Some have the look of handmade ceramics while others emulate revered art glass techniques. Countless variations could be introduced without the sizable expense of making master molds, and each new version can be easily reproduced as a single object or multiple copies.

The project was part of early efforts by Autodesk's Office of the CTO that tells stories about the future and then makes them come true. The team often arrives at new ideas and iterations through experimental and sometimes what-seems-impractical projects; however, over time, what was once impractical or even impossible becomes expected or even required.

Digital tools have become more accessible, and with projects like this, personalized manufacturing is also a reality as well.

Thanks to the Autodesk Gallery team for the descriptive text for this blog post.

Autodesk has always been an automation company, and today more than ever that means helping people make more things, better things, with less; more and better in terms of increasing efficiency, performance, quality, and innovation; less in terms of time, resources, and negative impacts (e.g., social, environmental). A project like this one helps the company in pursuit of its mission.

The Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is a guided tour on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm and a self-guided audio tour available anytime. For example, here' s Evan Atherton talking about this exhibit. Admission is free. Visit us.

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Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco: Custom Sound Exhibit

Autodesk makes software for people who make things. If you've ever driven a high-performance car, admired a towering skyscraper, used a smartphone, or watched a great film, chances are you've experienced what millions of Autodesk customers are doing with our software. Autodesk gives you the power to make anything, but some segments of the general public are not yet aware of that.

The Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco celebrates design — the process of taking a great idea and turning it into a reality. With about 60 different exhibits regularly on display that showcase the innovative work of Autodesk customers, the gallery illustrates the role technology plays in great design and engineering. Autodesk Gallery Ambassadors conduct gallery tours as a sideline to their day jobs. The tours provide ambassadors with opportunities to practice public speaking in front of small groups. Autodesk Gallery Curator, Jason Medal-Katz, chose the title, ambassador, instead of docent because the correct way to address an ambassador is "your Excellency." Alas, this never happens.

The Custom Sound exhibit is an exhibit that you see on the 2nd floor of our One Market office in San Francisco:

Today's 3D printing technology provides exciting new possibilities in manufacturing, enabling the creation of goods that combine the solid feel of commercial production with customized materials and styles that reflect our individual tastes. These speaker casings are a vivid example of how such technologies enable nimble, small-batch runs of complex custom designs. A trio of Autodesk designers pooled their skills to demonstrate the unique production possibilities of 3D printers. They employed a range of materials to create a jewel-like merger of solid materials and programmable LED lights.

But these speakers are just one option. The speakers can be tailored to individual tastes using diverse visual designs and materials.

Some have the look of handmade ceramics while others emulate revered art glass techniques. Countless variations could be introduced without the sizable expense of making master molds, and each new version can be easily reproduced as a single object or multiple copies.

The project was part of early efforts by Autodesk's Office of the CTO that tells stories about the future and then makes them come true. The team often arrives at new ideas and iterations through experimental and sometimes what-seems-impractical projects; however, over time, what was once impractical or even impossible becomes expected or even required.

Digital tools have become more accessible, and with projects like this, personalized manufacturing is also a reality as well.

Thanks to the Autodesk Gallery team for the descriptive text for this blog post.

Autodesk has always been an automation company, and today more than ever that means helping people make more things, better things, with less; more and better in terms of increasing efficiency, performance, quality, and innovation; less in terms of time, resources, and negative impacts (e.g., social, environmental). A project like this one helps the company in pursuit of its mission.

The Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is a guided tour on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm and a self-guided audio tour available anytime. For example, here' s Evan Atherton talking about this exhibit. Admission is free. Visit us.